Denbighshire Council Faces Scrutiny Over £1 Million 'Accessible' River Dee Path Hindered by 15 Steps

More than £1 million has been expended on a two-mile stretch of a bridle path along the River Dee in Denbighshire, designed to link Corwen and Cynwyd. However, the route, part of a wider £3.8 million Levelling Up scheme, has drawn sharp criticism for its lack of accessibility.

Access Barriers Persist

Despite significant investment in a new tarmac surface, the path in Cynwyd requires users to navigate 15 stone steps, effectively barring access for wheelchair users and many cyclists. Additionally, the Corwen end of the route features fences and stiles on private land, necessitating users to climb over them.

Morgan Jones, a wheelchair user, expressed profound frustration, stating, “I can’t understand why the council hasn’t put in that ramp. I feel that disabled people in a wheelchair are a second thought.” He added, “It’s 2026. It’s a shame that I have to fight for accessibility.”

Ross Adams of Cycling UK questioned the efficacy of the project, remarking, “We’ve got a situation at both ends of the active travel corridor where people can’t really access it, so it begs the question, why was it put in in the first place?”

Council Pledges Future Improvements

Dafydd Morris from Corwen Town Council highlighted the urgent need for “accessible gates here so horses, bikers, wheelchairs - everybody - can access.”

In response, a Denbighshire Council spokesperson confirmed that improvements to existing steps at Cynwyd and new tarmac were completed in a first phase. The council has secured additional funding for a ramp at the Cynwyd end, with completion anticipated by spring 2027. Furthermore, plans are being developed to improve accessibility at the Corwen/A5 end of the path.